WASHINGTON, D.C., February 28, 2011 – Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading global public relations firms, today announced that Michael Stopford has joined as executive vice president and senior global corporate strategist, effective immediately.

Stopford will be a key strategic resource for the firm’s global corporate clients, particularly in the areas of corporate reputation and social responsibility. He is based in the Washington, D.C. office, working closely with the Corporate practice and its clients, under the leadership of Micho Spring, chair of the Global Corporate practice.

Stopford brings high-level experience in public affairs and communications from both the private and public sectors to his new role. Most recently, he served as the deputy assistant secretary general for strategic communications services for NATO. His public sector experience includes assignments for the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Washington, D.C., including director of the United Nations Information Center and chief of media and public relations for the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank’s private sector arm. In the corporate sector, leading multinational companies such as Coca-Cola, Syngenta International, and ExxonMobil have relied on Stopford’s public affairs, government relations and reputation management expertise. Stopford’s role has ranged from forging strategic partnerships across sectors to the development and execution of global corporate reputation strategies, integrating sustainable growth with social, environmental and business reputation leadership.

“Michael brings invaluable knowledge and expertise in corporate reputation and social responsibility to the firm and will provide clients with keen insights, strategic guidance and creative solutions,” said Andy Polansky, president of Weber Shandwick. “His depth and breadth of experience will be an asset to both our firm and our clients.”

Stopford currently sits on the boards of the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and the Von Karman Institute in Brussels. He is a member of the Cercle de la Grande Société de Berne (Swiss Foreign Policy Council) and has served on various non-profit and higher education boards. In addition, he was a 2007 member of the Clinton Global Initiative. Stopford has held adjunct professorships at Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University and American University and has lectured widely in the U.S. and overseas. A graduate of Oxford University, he received an honorary degree from New England College.